Yadier Molina left the Cardinals and flew to St. Louis yesterday to undergo an MRI exam on his sore right knee, and Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports that “Molina has likely played his last game of 2010.”
According to general manager John Mozeliak the MRI revealed “no structural damage” but enough inflammation was found that the Cardinals don’t think it’s worth having him play again. “Another way to think about it is, if we were playing two weeks from now, he could be ready,” Mozeliak told Leach.
Molina’s usual backup, Jason LaRue, was forced into retirement due to the concussion suffered when Johnny Cueto kicked him in the head, so rookies Matt Pagnozzi and Bryan Anderson figure to split time behind the plate for the final 11 games.